Swedish Princess Has 18th Birthday Speech

July 15, 1995

Sweden's Crown Princess Victoria celebrated her 18th birthday on Friday, marking her coming of age with her first public speech and a walk among enthusiastic crowds in Stockholm.

The popular Victoria now becomes official deputy for her father, King Carl Gustaf, an earnest figure who commands the respect if not the affection of the Swedish people, which is reserved for German-born Queen Silvia and their children.

In her first public address, Victoria spoke to about 500 people at the Royal Palace's State Room in central Stockholm, Sweden, and to the public on live television.

Victoria sat with her parents facing an audience that included King Harald and Queen Sonja of Norway, family members, and government representatives.

After a brief speech pledging loyalty to her father, she walked through a crowd of several thousand monarchists in central Stockholm.

The royal family remains highly popular in Sweden and has escaped scandals that have damaged the popularity of royalties elsewhere, especially in Britain.

The Swedish media have been kind to the teen-age Victoria, who lives the life of a typical, well-heeled Swedish youngster and goes out with understated security.

Swedish royalty have been figureheads since the constitution limited their powers 20 years ago.